Television Studio Discussion

[Windy Miller]

This is sad news.
The iconic LWT building is going to be demolished

Such a waste

[Charles Bronson]

Nothing is sacred to developers . If they could they'd build on our gardens.

[Sparky]

According to the "initital plans", the tower block was to remain, the studio space and supporting areas was being redeveloped.

Shame to see the back of that.

It would have been it's 50th Birthday this year.

Ironically, ATV was offered land on Southbank in the 1950s - planning permission granted and all that. Possibly this land.

But instead, they took the space at Elstree. Perhaps a better decision as it was tailor built to what they wanted to achieve.

Sadly - it's a sign of progress.

There isn't enough work to keep the studio spaces operational.

This is what ATV discovered some 42 years ago - they were told to close their Elstree operation and operate totally from the midlands if they still wanted to broadcast.

The space in Birmingham couldn't be extended to fully accomodate all the facilities; so they built the studio in Nottingham and relocated a majority of the staff. (cause for strikes).

Their plan was to retain Elstree - but as an independent studio/producer - under ITC - so they could operate like Euston Films - making TV films, Drama, feature films, as well as make the space available to other independent producers.

Space was also proposed for Channel 4 and also Breakfast TV.

That way, the space could have been viable.

As we know, C4 didn't really use studios and only required a Presentation/Playout area, and TV-AM built their own studios at Camden Lock.

Once "Auf Pet" s1 had finished with the backlot in 1982/3, that was pretty much it - apart from a few early episodes of "Blockbusters".

Elstree was closed, stood empty for a while until a deal was negotiated for it's sale to the BBC.

As we know, Eastenders took over much of the backlot (A new set has been built), and "Holby City" utilised most of the office blocks.

It seems that Elstree might be suffering the same fate as the LWT studios - given that "Holby" recently ended, and Eastenders have a new set.

[Lord Emsworth]

RIP LWT building

[Palmer]

Apr 1, 2022 19:42:06 GMT Windy Miller said:

This is sad news.
The iconic LWT building is going to be demolished

Such a waste

Very sad indeed...

I love (or loved I suppose seeing as so much of it is being levelled!!) the brutalist stretch of the South Bank...!! It is changing so fast and all for fancy apartments that will probably never be lived in!

The LWT building is certainly an icon and it will be sadly missed.

As an aside I used to get so excited when I saw the LWT logo come up on the television on a Friday evening!!  I knew I had no school for the next couple of days!!!!

[Sparky]

Forgot to post this.

This is a 25min film showing the construction of the LWT studios on Southbank, made around 1971/72.
You get a bit of a look round the technical facilities as they are being kitted out.

A majority of the other major ITV studios were equipped with the same equipment - Thorn (owning a large % of Thames) and Pye (being owned by ATV) provided Lighting and Camera equipment.

There is a Pub sign with an LWT logo on it - was this a temp office?
Or was it an actual pub?

[Gene Hunt]

Apr 7, 2022 9:13:23 GMT Sparky said:

There is a Pub sign with an LWT logo on it - was this a temp office?
Or was it an actual pub?

The building with the LWT logo hanging from it was actually Gabriel's Wharf which was used to be part of the Younger's Brewery Company. It became a scenery store for the studios. The facade we see briefly in the video clip can still be seen today at #58 Upper Ground, London - Google View

Gene.

[Sparky]

Apr 7, 2022 13:52:11 GMT Gene Hunt said:

Apr 7, 2022 9:13:23 GMT Sparky said:

There is a Pub sign with an LWT logo on it - was this a temp office?
Or was it an actual pub?

The building with the LWT logo hanging from it was actually Gabriel's Wharf which was used to be part of the Younger's Brewery Company. It became a scenery store for the studios. The facade we see briefly in the video clip can still be seen today at #58 Upper Ground, London - Google View

Gene.

Thanks Gene!

I knew someone would know.

[Nightfly]

Apr 7, 2022 9:13:23 GMT Sparky said:

Forgot to post this.

This is a 25min film showing the construction of the LWT studios on Southbank, made around 1971/72.

Thanks for posting. Quite fitting that recently we have a Fact of The Day thread about the passage of time etc. One of the things that always amazes me are the buildings that were constructed in my life time that are now considered obsolete. The South Bank Studios here being sold as the cutting edge of television production and now, less then 50 years later is about to be demolished. It's difficult to get my head around this.

[Sparky]

Apr 8, 2022 12:07:50 GMT Nightfly said:

Apr 7, 2022 9:13:23 GMT Sparky said:

Forgot to post this.

This is a 25min film showing the construction of the LWT studios on Southbank, made around 1971/72.

Thanks for posting. Quite fitting that recently we have a Fact of The Day thread about the passage of time etc. One of the things that always amazes me are the buildings that were constructed in my life time that are now considered obsolete. The South Bank Studios here being sold as the cutting edge of television production and now, less then 50 years later is about to be demolished. It's difficult to get my head around this.

ATV-Centre in Birmingham opened in 1970, closed it's doors in 1997 and was demolished in 2016.

That building was cutting edge-  it was the first purpose built television studio to be built for colour. (Others just upgraded).

It used equipment that made it the most technically up to date in Europe.

It had a working lifespan of 27 years.

Over in Nottingham, Central TV opened it's studio  in 1984 - it was sold to Nottingham University in 2004 - so only had a 20 year working life.